Chico, PV boys set to face off in D-II basketball final

Both teams are well-rested. Both teams have extra motivation outside of the obvious. Just about everything, across the board, is set up for a fantastic final in the Northern Section Division II boys basketball playoffs between Pleasant Valley and Chico High at 7:45 at Acker Gym on Saturday.

The Vikings (13-13) have, in several ways, looked like a superior team to their crosstown rivals this season, including a 2-1 mark against Chico (16-10) and two straight victories in the very facility in which the two will tango again.

Of course, none of it will matter tonight. The Panthers are defending section champions and fully capable of repeating the feat for a sixth straight time. What will matter is quality possessions for Chico; the last two times out against the Vikings, PV's defensive efforts frustrated the Panthers into taking quick 3s and contested shots. The first time the teams met, Chico shot just 25 percent on 3s and under 35 percent from the floor, and the next time out, the Vikings limited their nemeses again, and this time, had some offensive firepower behind them.

The Panthers' lone win against PV on the year came back in tournament season, but the formula seemed to be clear: Get versatile forward Clayton Welch involved offensively. It's no surprise, then, that in PV's triumphs this year, Welch has either been in foul trouble or struggled from the floor.

What the Vikings do will mostly likely be dependent on a team-focused attack, as usual. Chico transfer Jerry Migasi has enjoyed playing against his old uniform, but beyond that, he's PV's leading scorer this season at 10.6 points per game. And Joseph Abdulmasih has also come on down the stretch, too, to provide a slashing element to the Vikings' half-court game on top of their outside shooting capabilities with Tyler Collier and the inside-outside combo play of Zack Suttles. And nobody will overlook Javonne McClellan's big presence in the paint, though foul trouble has played a part against Chico this season.

The Panthers will obviously lean on Welch's 6-foot-5 frame on both ends of the floor, but they do have enough around him to help him out. Angel Roldan represents a top outside threat, and if Devin Bauer — another player who's been limited by early fouls in this series this season — can produce alongside Welch, the Panthers could open things up a bit more on the offensive end. Space for the likes of Uvonte Person and Sterling Winter, players who shine in spot-up scenarios, could be just what the Panthers need to get away from the low shooting percentages they've suffered in their last two contests against PV.

While both teams have a measure of revenge to exact — Chico's more short-term, to be sure — the stakes are clear. The winner gets another NSCIF banner and a home NorCal playoff game.